“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that… we will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink… making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!),” Trump posted.

The President further intensified the rhetoric by urging Iranian Kurdish forces to open a domestic front against the central government, signaling a strategy aimed at total regime collapse.

Naval escalation: ‘Quiet death’ off Sri Lanka

The geographical scope of the war widened significantly following a rare submarine engagement in the Indian Ocean. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that a US Navy submarine torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the coast of Galle, Sri Lanka.

• Casualties: At least 87 sailors are confirmed dead.
• Rescue: 32 survivors were rescued by Sri Lankan naval units and admitted to hospitals in Galle.
• Context: Hegseth characterised the strike as a “quiet death,” marking the first time a US submarine has sunk an enemy vessel with a torpedo since World War II.

In this rapidly evolving kinetic environment, The Indian Express Global Desk prioritises official military briefings from the IDF and CENTCOM, corroborated by satellite intelligence. All casualty figures are attributed to specific reporting agencies. Given the fluid situation in Tehran and the Gulf, we advise readers to strictly follow official government travel advisories.